Faisal M. Ghaffar
Ethical and Legal Aspects of Nursing Practice
November 6, 2015
Professor Ovidio Viera
Florida National University
Ethical Nursing Issues with End of Life Care and Quality of Life.
There are many issue that are ethically challenging to nurses, one of the main ethical challenge that nurses working in critical care, emergency rooms, and hospice regarding End of Life Care. With today’s advancements in healthcare technology, prolonging of life can arise questions regarding quality of life, and in a situation where there is no quality of life, is it still considered prolonging of life or prolonging of death?
The American Nurses Association’s standing and statement is “End-of-life choices are a quality of life issue. Nurses, individually and collectively, have an …show more content…
Solely then can we create progress in achieving the correct intensity for every individual patient at the EOL. Providing EOL care that is acceptable, compassionate, and in accordance with the patient's desires is a vital part of the nurse's role, however nurses may well be more effective in working with patients. Nurses should be willing and able to begin the difficult dialogue with patients and their loved ones, assist them in understanding their sickness state, and explore specific recommendations for care based on their personal values.
There was a recent survey conducted by Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) that asked the three questions:
1. To identify ethical issues commonly experienced by hospice and palliative nurses
2. To identify resources available to the nurses and barriers if any to their